Stephen Pressfield's book The War of Art defines “Resistance” as the universal derailing force that seeks to undo us the moment we attempt to move to a higher plane in art, academics, relationships, and life. If Resistance had a voice, it would say things like, “You can't, you can't, you can't. You're not smart enough, organized enough, savvy enough.”

If you are attempting to bring order to your home, you can expect to experience some Resistance. It can come from the inside or from the outside. You might doubt yourself, and others might question your motives, especially if they are losing the war against Resistance in their own lives. Remember — it is far easier for other people to point out the flaws in your plan than it is for them to wage their own battles.

According to Pressfield, when you feel overly critical of other people, that is a good sign that you need to stop focusing on others and channel your energies into waging your own battles. Perhaps home organizing seems too menial for these battles to be fierce. But the battles you wage on the home front are every bit as real and significant as the ones that are waged out there in the “real world.” In fact, because a home is so closely linked to a sense of well-being and peace of mind, the steps you take at home can, to some extent, predetermine your success (or lack of it) in the outside world.

The Problem with Perfectionism

Perfectionism can paralyze. As soon as you realize all there is to do and all that you hope to accomplish, you can quickly become overwhelmed. Instead of trying to do everything, Pressfield recommends that you just seek to combat Resistance for a little bit every day. He recommends taking small, concrete steps that are not focused on outcomes. Instead of seeking to tackle all of your projects, he advises, just fight Resistance a little bit each day. Even if you can't make your home perfect, you can certainly make it better.

One Life or Two?

“Most of us have two lives,” writes Pressfield. “The life you live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.” It could also be said that most people have two homes — the home you dream of living in and the home you actually inhabit. Although economics and other factors may keep you from purchasing your “dream home,” it might be possible, in small, concrete ways, to bridge some of the gaps between dreams and reality just by organizing and ordering the home you actually do have, right now. If you can bring order and serenity to your home, your contentment will increase. You might even discover that you don't actually need all the things you imagine you do. Just do the best you can with what you have in the present moment, recognizing that your resources (time, money, energy) are finite, but if you keep taking baby steps, your possibilities will expand.